Reborn in 78, I made my fortune by working in the mountains, supporting three families on my own.

Su Minggui waved his hand and continued to impart his practical knowledge:

"What expert or no expert? We're just trying to make a living. I'll teach you a trick for hunting wild musk deer."

From now on, when you go into the mountains or set traps, always carry some musk powder with you.

It can both cover up your human scent and confuse the musk deer herd, making them mistake you for their own kind passing by and follow your route.

The success rate of using a condom will at least double.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lei and Qin Bowen's eyes lit up instantly!

Zhao Lei has been hunting in the mountains for many years and is very experienced. He has never heard of such a detailed trick before!

As expected, everyone has their own expertise; professional herbal medicine dealers know more about the intricacies than even veteran hunters!

Qin Bowen then continued to report on today's gains:

"Twenty-five snares, eight of them were triggered. Six snares were torn off, leaving only two medium-sized ones. I caught a weasel and a half-grown wild goat, and I brought them both back."

Zhao Lei could hear the disappointment in Qin Bowen's tone, so he smiled and comforted him: "Bowen, setting a trap relies on patience and luck. The prey in the mountains is very clever. It's already good if you catch two. You have to be patient when setting a trap."

Zhao Lei then raised an eyebrow: "By the way, have you restored all eight of those triggered lassos?"

Upon hearing this question, Qin Bowen's face instantly stiffened, and he picked up the remaining wine in his glass and downed it in one gulp.

"Brother-in-law... I'll punish myself with a drink."

Zhao Lei gave him a light tap, annoyed: "You brat! You never finish what you start! Are you already thinking about going down the mountain to find a girl? Your heart has already flown away!"

Qin Bowen chuckled foolishly, not daring to refute, and obediently filled everyone's glasses with wine.

The family enjoyed a pleasant and harmonious dinner together.

Everyone was very considerate and stopped at the right time, without getting completely drunk, since they had important business to attend to the next day.

Around 9 p.m., feeling tipsy, Zhao Lei went to bed early.

After repeated persuasion from Su Wanqing and Qin Yuchan, Su Minggui moved into the guest room that had been prepared in the new house.

This was also the first guest to move into the Zhao family's new house.

Su Minggui initially declined repeatedly, feeling it wasn't a good idea.

But both women smiled and said that they were all family and there was no need for formalities.

Su Minggui, feeling quite drunk and indeed tired, stopped refusing and gladly stayed.

The next morning, around eight o'clock.

Zhao Lei's head was still a little throbbing from the alcohol, and he was vaguely shaken awake.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Qin Yuchan.

He rubbed his forehead: "Yu Chan, what's wrong? What time is it?"

"It's past eight o'clock."

Qin Yuchan's expression was serious. "The army just came by."

Upon hearing the word "Dajun," Zhao Lei instantly became much more awake, all sleepiness vanished, and he sat bolt upright.

"The army is here? What did they say? Where are they?!"

Qin Yuchan immediately spoke:

"Dajun said the stolen goods have surfaced! Someone has musk in his possession and has been loitering around the black market these past few days, approaching several drug dealers but unable to reach an agreement on a price, so he hasn't made a move yet."

Zhao Lei was overjoyed: "Really?! Who's selling them? Have you found out who it is?!"

Qin Yuchan frowned slightly: "Dajun didn't figure out their exact identities. He only told you to go there as soon as you woke up. They're meeting at the state-run restaurant opposite the Jinxiu Textile Factory in town at noon."

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Lei felt a surge of excitement.

He immediately rolled out of bed, filled a basin with cold water, washed his face, and instantly woke up.

Su Wanqing was on leave at home today, so she went to wake Su Minggui up for breakfast.

At the dinner table, Zhao Lei recounted the news that Da Jun had brought in detail.

After listening, Su Minggui pondered for a moment and immediately came up with a plan.

"Lei Zi, people who sell stolen goods on the black market usually don't show their true colors. And the person selling the goods may not be the same person who stole the musk pouch; it's very likely that it changed hands several times in between."

Zhao Lei looked puzzled upon hearing this: "Uncle, what do you mean?"

Su Minggui slowly said, "Based on my many years of experience running the black market for medicinal herbs, these kinds of shady goods are all traded in secret."

"Right now, they don't know about my relationship with you, so we can use this to our advantage. I'll offer a high price to take over the goods, and after I've verified their background, you can make your move."

Zhao Lei's eyes lit up: "Then let's catch them red-handed and report them to the authorities directly?"

Su Minggui waved his hand: "Reporting to the authorities is not an option. I am a herbal medicine dealer who operates on the black market. If I report to the authorities, I will be implicated myself."

Zhao Lei slapped his thigh suddenly: "Oh dear, I almost forgot about that."

"If reporting to the authorities won't work, we can detain the person privately first, and then hand him over to the sheriff along with the stolen goods. That way, we can be on the safe side."

"Alright, let's split up then. Uncle, you go and contact the sellers. I've planted a few informants outside; I need to go and verify things."

"Okay, let's go our separate ways after we finish eating."

Su Wanqing listened quietly as the two finished discussing the matter, then asked, "Uncle, are you leaving today? Why don't you stay a few more days?"

Little Stone was holding a bowl and drinking porridge next to him, his little mouth covered with a ring of white rice paste.

With her little face tilted up, she shouted loudly at Su Minggui, "Grandpa, don't go, don't go!"

Su Minggui's face immediately lit up with a kind smile, and he reached out to pat Xiao Shitou's head: "Good boy, Grandpa won't leave. Grandpa's just going out to take care of some things, and I'll be back to see you in a few days, okay?"

Little Stone blinked his big eyes and then nodded: "Grandpa wants to buy some food."

"Okay, okay, Grandpa will go to Yunchang County and bring you some delicious food that you can't buy in Qingfeng Town."

Hearing this, Peipei and Yuanyuan immediately came over, their eyes sparkling: "Grandpa, you're the best!"

Su Minggui was surrounded and coaxed by several children, making him laugh heartily, his cheerful laughter echoing throughout the room.

He had wandered alone for most of his life, without children, and had not experienced such warmth and affection from others for a long time.

A sense of melancholy welled up in my heart, and I secretly regretted that if I had started a family earlier, I would probably have such well-behaved children around me.

But then I thought about it again, and it wasn't too late.

This trip to Qingfeng Town unexpectedly resolved a knot in his heart that had been accumulating for many years.

After breakfast, Zhao Lei and Su Minggui said goodbye to everyone in the family and walked to the gate of the courtyard.

Zhao Lei pushed his old-fashioned bicycle, intending to take Su Minggui to town with him.

Su Minggui waved his hand and refused: "No, Lei Zi, we can't appear too close right now. We need to hide our kinship until we catch the thief. If they find out we're relatives, they definitely won't dare sell the goods to me."

Zhao Lei suddenly understood and secretly admired his uncle's meticulousness and thorough consideration.

The two then split up.

Su Minggui slung his basket over his shoulder and walked alone along the country path toward Qingfeng Town.

Zhao Lei then rode his old-fashioned bicycle to find Qin Bowen.